Today is the start of Independent Bookshop Week in the UK and Ireland. Browsing for books in a shop is a whole different experience to searching online. Browsing can reveal unexpected and wildly treasured finds. One of the things I love about Independent Bookshops is that they are run by people who are as crazed…
Author: Tracey Warr
Author of historical novels and books on contemporary art.
Gwenllian – Welsh Warrior Queen
A guest post on my novel, The Anarchy, and the story of Gwenllian, the 12th-century Welsh woman who led an army against the Normans at Kidwelly Castle is posted today on Tony Riches’ The Writing Desk. Gwenllian was the daughter of the king of the northern kingdom of Wales, Gwynedd. She married the disinherited king…
Quicksand
The spectacular Romanesque abbey on Mont-Saint-Michel island off the coast of Normandy is marking its 1,000-year birthday this year, with President Emmanuel Macron among those visiting for the celebrations. Nine hundred years ago, Henry de Normandy (a major character in my Conquest trilogy of novels) played a significant role in Mont-Saint-Michel’s history. Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey was…
Unpacking Books
Unpacking the latest batch of books. Since last November, I have been working on reissuing my five historical novels under my own imprint, Meanda Books. Daughter of the Last King, The Drowned Court and The Anarchy – my trilogy on medieval Wales are all available now in hardback, paperback and ebook. Coming next, The Viking…
Happy May Day
Happy May Day! The Anarchy, the final book in my medieval Wales trilogy, is published today. The novel deals with the 12th century succession crisis after King Henry I lost his only legitimate male heir in a shipwreck and tried to make his daughter, Empress Maud, his successor. It also covers the Welsh uprising against…
Untangling Nest ferch Rhys
In the 12th century, the Welsh noblewoman, Nest ferch Rhys, was married to the Norman steward of Pembroke Castle, Gerald FitzWalter. One dark night, soon after Christmas, the Welsh prince of the neighbouring kingdom of Powys, Owain ap Cadwgan, broke into the castle where Nest, Gerald, their children and household were sleeping. Owain was accompanied…
Browsing for Books
Over ten years ago, I stumbled across Meg Bogin’s book, The Female Troubadours, in the library of University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s where I was studying for an MA in Creative Writing. I was working on my first novel at the time, based on the real woman, Almodis de La Marche, the countess of…
Publication Day – The Drowned Court
It’s publication day for The Drowned Court, the second book in my Conquest trilogy about Nest ferch Rhys and King Henry I, set in the early 12th century. See Meanda Books for more information. Buy the book.
Idiosyncratic Bookshops and Lovely Libraries
My bookshelf (above) has been published today on Shepherd.com, which is creating new and unique ways for readers to find amazing books. In this bookshelf post I write about the serendipity and synergy in what can be found through browsing (as opposed to purposeful searching). Idiosyncratic bookshops and lovely libraries bring unexpected twists to my…
Interview with Elizabeth Chadwick
Elizabeth Chadwick’s new historical novel, The King’s Jewel, launches today. The publication of any new book by Elizabeth Chadwick is eagerly awaited by her many avid readers. I was especially keen to interview her about this novel since it centres on medieval Wales and Nesta ferch Rhys and Gerald of Windsor. This interview is the first…
Tracey Warr Writing 